Last updated: 29 September 2026 · 8 min read
Written by: Charizz | Reviewed by: Corporate Secretarial Team, HeySara
Key Takeaways
- RONS identifies shareholders who hold shares on behalf of someone else (the nominator), helping protect beneficial owners’ privacy while keeping Singapore’s corporate register transparent to regulators.
- Since 16 June 2025, companies must file with ACRA’s Central RONS, not just maintain a private register — this is a significant expansion of the earlier 2022 framework.
- Filing deadlines depend on when your company was incorporated, and late filing can mean fines of up to $25,000 — there are no extensions.
- Six categories of companies are exempt from maintaining RONS, but exempt companies must still notify ACRA of their exempt status.
- RONS works alongside the Register of Nominee Directors (ROND) and Register of Registrable Controllers (RORC) as part of Singapore’s broader beneficial ownership transparency framework.
Singapore’s reputation as a global business hub is built on a strong foundation of regulatory frameworks that emphasise transparency, accountability, and legal compliance. One such critical component is the Register of Nominee Shareholders (RONS).
In this article, we explore what RONS is, its purpose, current legal requirements, and how ACRA’s 2025 Central Register regulations have reshaped compliance in this area.
Understanding the Register of Nominee Shareholders (RONS) in Singapore
The Register of Nominee Shareholders (RONS) is a record companies must maintain identifying individuals or entities holding shares on behalf of someone else. These nominee shareholders act as intermediaries for beneficial owners who wish to keep their ownership private while holding an interest in a Singaporean company.
This practice is common in jurisdictions that prioritise privacy in corporate ownership arrangements, allowing individuals and entities to invest while keeping their involvement discreet.
Certain companies are exempt from maintaining RONS. The following categories are exempted:
(a) Listed Public Companies — companies whose shares are listed for quotation on an approved exchange in Singapore.
(b) Singapore Financial Institutions.
(c) Government-Owned Companies — companies wholly owned by the Government of Singapore.
(d) Statutory Body-Owned Companies — companies wholly owned by a statutory body established under a public Act.
(e) Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of any entity in categories (a) to (d).
(f) Internationally Listed Companies — companies listed on an overseas exchange and already subject to equivalent beneficial ownership disclosure standards.
Exempted companies must still inform ACRA of their exempt status via ACRA’s Update Registers of Nominee Directors and Nominee Shareholders eService, and declare the exemption when filing annual returns — exemption isn’t automatic or silent.
Purpose of the Register of Nominee Shareholders
RONS serves several important purposes in Singapore’s corporate governance framework:
Privacy Protection: RONS helps safeguard the anonymity of beneficial owners who hold shares through nominee arrangements, allowing them to maintain privacy while still holding interests in Singaporean companies.
Regulatory Compliance: RONS supports Singapore’s anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) regime by helping track and verify nominee shareholders’ identities and activities.
Transparency: Shareholders, directors, and regulatory authorities can access the register, allowing them to understand a company’s ultimate ownership structure even where nominee shareholders are involved.
Due Diligence: RONS supports due diligence during mergers, acquisitions, or investments, letting interested parties verify a company’s ownership structure and assess risk.
Legal Compliance: Maintaining accurate RONS is a legal requirement. Non-compliance can result in fines and potential legal action against company officers.
Current ACRA requirements for RONS
Since 16 June 2025, ACRA has maintained a Central Register of Nominee Directors (ROND) and Nominee Shareholders (RONS), in addition to the private registers companies already maintain. This significantly expands the earlier 2022 framework — companies now file directly with ACRA, not just keep a private record.
Setting up and maintaining your private register: no annual update is required if nothing changes. When a shareholder becomes or ceases to be a nominee, or a nominator’s details change, the private register must be updated within 7 days.
Filing with ACRA’s Central RONS:
- Companies incorporated before 16 June 2025 had to file for the first time by 31 December 2025
- Companies incorporated from 16 June 2025 onward file on the same day they incorporate, via Bizfile
- Any update to an existing filing must reach ACRA within 2 business days
There are no extensions for these deadlines. Missing one can lead to prosecution and fines of up to $25,000.
These requirements work alongside the Register of Registrable Controllers (RORC) and Register of Nominee Directors (ROND) — together, they form Singapore’s framework for verifying who actually controls a company, even when nominee arrangements are used.
See our full RONS glossary entry for a quick-reference summary of these requirements and deadlines.
Given the complexity of these requirements and the penalties for missing a filing deadline, many companies engage a corporate secretarial service to manage RONS, ROND, and RORC compliance on their behalf.
Balancing privacy and transparency
Singapore has struck a balance between protecting the privacy of investors who use nominee arrangements and ensuring transparency in corporate ownership. By enacting clear legal requirements and regulated access to RONS, Singapore respects investors’ privacy while adhering to international standards of financial transparency — helping prevent illicit activities such as money laundering and tax evasion, and maintaining Singapore’s credibility as a global business destination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to file RONS even if my company has no nominee shareholders?
Yes. The requirement to set up and maintain a private register, and file with the Central RONS, applies even if your company currently has no nominee shareholders.
What happens if I miss the Central RONS filing deadline?
There are no extensions available. Missing the deadline can lead to prosecution and fines of up to $25,000.
Is RONS information available to the public?
The nominee status of a shareholder appears publicly in the company’s Business Profile once filed. The underlying RONS details themselves aren’t available for public purchase.
Do exempted companies need to do anything at all?
Yes — exempted companies must still notify ACRA of their exempt status and declare it in their annual return filings.
Is RONS the same as ROND?
No, though they’re closely linked. ROND covers nominee directors; RONS covers nominee shareholders. Since 16 June 2025, both are filed together with ACRA’s Central ROND and RONS.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. RONS and ROND requirements are set by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) and are subject to change. While we make every effort to keep this information accurate and up to date, you should always verify current requirements on ACRA’s official website or consult a qualified professional before making compliance decisions. HeySara accepts no liability for actions taken based on this article.
